Management, engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald will assume a new role within the 309MW Rentel offshore wind farm project, after the EUR 1.1 billion project in the Belgian North Sea reached financial close earlier this week.
Mott MacDonald is lenders’ technical advisor on the project and will now provide construction and operational monitoring in an ongoing role.
Having initially provided technical support to developer Rentel NV, a consortium of eight Belgian shareholders, including Otary Offshore Energy, DEME Group and Elicio NV, Mott MacDonald transitioned to a lenders’ technical advisor role in early 2016 and delivered due diligence services until financial close.
During this time, the consultancy provided input on aspects of the development such as the deployment of the wind turbine platform and the use of XL monopiles, which will require the world’s largest piling hammer during their installation.
“As we were commissioned by the developer at an early stage, we were able to provide valuable input during the initial contract negotiations and design stage,” Nick Morgan, Mott MacDonald’s project manager, said.
”This meant that the lenders’ requirements could be fed into the process and addressed early on to achieve bankability, therefore streamlining the financing process. Our role on Rentel continues our long-standing involvement in the Belgian offshore wind sector. We have been involved in the four previous offshore wind farms – Belwind, Northwind, Thornton Bank and Nobelwind – to reach financial close.”
The Rentel offshore wind farm is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2018.
Nathalie Oosterlinck, Rentel’s chief executive officer, said: “We are very pleased to have worked with Mott MacDonald from early on in the development of this project. We have found a trusted and experienced partner that has contributed to the objectives of the project.”
In April 2016, Rentel NV and Siemens signed a contract for the supply and the 17-year servicing and maintenance of 42 7MW offshore wind turbines.
In the same month Rentel ordered a subsea cable system for the wind farm from ABB.
In March 2016 the company awarded STX France with the EPCI contract for the wind farm’s offshore substation.
DEME is in charge of the design, supply, transport and installations of foundations and infield cables.
Rentel OWF is located approximately 34 kilometres from Zeebrugge and approximately 40 kilometres from Ostend.
The development headquarters is located in the harbour of Ostend, where also the operational management of the wind farm will be based.